Livestock

Beef from the UK could soon be heading to America after Government officials agreed the next step of an export deal worth about £66 million, over the first five years.

A £1.4 million investment in a greenfield site dairy on the edge of the Lake District National Park is helping future-proof one Cumbrian agricultural business.

The AHDB Beef and Lamb-funded project Challenge Sheep has now reached its third year and has, so far, identified a number of key points. Farmers Guardian reports.

Better utilisation of grass and streamlining efficiencies has allowed one North Ayrshire monitor farm to significantly increase output over the last three years.

The SNP has said it is ‘exasperated’ by the UK Government’s failure to commit to having a red meat levy repatriation scheme up and running by April next year.

Despite the rise in vegan and vegetarian trends, turkey sales have continued to dominate the festive period.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has criticised claims a drastic reduction in red meat consumption will be vital to reaching the UK’s net zero target before 2050.

Organic farmer, Matt Ridley, has finished his lambs without concentrates for the past seven years achieving the top two grades on forage and grass alone. Ann Hardy reports.

Managing ewes correctly in the last few weeks before lambing is critical. If things go wrong at this stage, lamb birth weight could be low, lamb losses high, colostrum quantity and quality poor, and lamb growth below target.

Integrating livestock into arable systems can improve farm productivity, generate opportunities for new entrants and create diverse rotations that feed and heal soils.